Roy Keane has told Wayne Rooney to look after himself as Manchester United
finally get ready to respond to the explosion of interest in the England
striker's future.

With a UEFA press conference planned for this afternoon to preview tomorrow's Champions League showdown with Bursaspor, Sir Alex Ferguson knows he will face some pretty intense questioning about his relationship with Rooney.

The relationship is said to have deteriorated so badly that Rooney has told United there is no way he will sign a contract extension when the current one ends in 2012.

There remains a possibility manager Ferguson could head the whole thing off by releasing a statement earlier in the day in an attempt to clarify a number of issues, which in itself would be an extraordinary step for a player.

Yet, as someone whose own, even more illustrious, Old Trafford career was brought to a brutal end in four lines of appreciative quotes from his manager in November 2005, Keane has told Rooney to consider only one person as he looks ahead to the remainder of his career.

"Players and managers fall out all the time. It is part of life," said the Ipswich manager. "If I was to offer advice to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one.

"Players are pieces of meat - that's how I look at it. When your time's up, your time's up."

Thus far, Ferguson has kept his own counsel, although he looked relaxed as he attended a £1million extension of United's charitable work for UNICEF.

He left Old Trafford before any of his own thoughts on Rooney could be offered.

Behind the scenes however, work is under way to try to fashion some kind of response to a situation United's insiders admit has caught them by surprise, if only because of the manner of it.

Even as recently as yesterday afternoon, suggestions of high-level conversations involving United officials gave rise to the idea Rooney was being persuaded to sign a new contract.

But it is understood this is not the case and the entire stand-off remains exactly as it was on Sunday, when it became apparent exactly how fractured the relationship between Rooney and Ferguson has become.

Not that Jose Mourinho believes the situation is irretrievable.

As one of the men tipped to replace Ferguson when the Scot eventually calls time on his United career, and more importantly as manager of one of the few clubs who could realistically afford the 24-year-old, Mourinho's comments do carry some weight.

And while the Real Madrid coach opted not to get into any deep discussion about Rooney ahead of his side's Champions League encounter with AC Milan at the Bernabeu tonight, he suggested Ferguson could yet patch things up with his star striker.

"I don't think he will (become available)," he said. "I think the big man will persuade him to stay."

Ferguson's Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger is also convinced that Rooney will ultimately remain where he is.

Quoted in several national newspapers today, the Frenchman said: "Rooney is a great player. I am convinced he will stay at Manchester United because it is his club.

"They have the power to keep him. When you give a great player a rest, you have a story. Rooney is Rooney. He will stay where he is."

United's problem is that if Rooney's departure is sanctioned, the list of clubs across Europe who could realistically afford a player who cost £27million when he arrived from Everton in 2004 and scored 34 goals last season before injury curtailed his campaign, is pretty short.

Barcelona are said to be trying to trim back their outgoings, and Madrid invested heavily in the summer.

Italy is not awash with money, while Bayern Munich spent considerable amounts last summer building a squad to suit Louis van Gaal.

Unless an exchange deal involving someone like Karim Benzema or Franck Ribery could be arranged, Rooney's options abroad are limited, while in England, only Chelsea or Manchester City could stump up the wages required to secure the forward's services.

The mere mention of City's name would send a shudder down the Old Trafford faithful, who realise what a positive impact Carlos Tevez has had since his own move across town to Eastlands.

At a time when they appear vulnerable after registering five draws in their opening eight games, United would resist that move with vigour.